[Rhodes22-list] Peukert's Equation

[Bill Effros]

Hadz,

All you need is to look at the gauges.  You insert Peukert's exponent 
into the gauge, and the gauge calculates the amount of energy used and 
remaining.  Because most amp/hour calculations are done at 20 hour 
draws, and most of our appliances use far far less amperage, our 
appliances will run for many hours longer than the rated capacity of our 
batteries.  Because the solar panels are also rated for 20 hour 
capacities, they return much more electricity to our batteries than 
their ratings would indicate.  The solar panels installed by the factory 
are extremely useful and properly sized for our boats.  They are not big 
enough to pose an overloading threat.

I like wet cells in my boat because I sail upright and have no problem 
with leakage, and because they can be charged to very high voltages 
without fear of damage to the battery.  My batteries generally carry 
charges in excess of 14 volts.  When they consistently go below 13 volts 
it is time for me to change them.  They always have enough power to 
start my motor, and to run the large subwoofer that is constantly 
running when I'm on my boat.

Constantly maintaining very high voltages on my batteries extends their 
useful life.  I am sure I could push it past 6 years, but what's the 
point?  I use the least expensive batteries.  They cost $10 a year.  
They are totally reliable.  I can see their internal state with the push 
of a button.

Bill Effros


Joseph Hadzima wrote:
> Gee Bill, I thought you said all I needed was to look at
> the gauges!  If I need to do all that math, I'll never have
> time to navigate my way out of my bathtub!
>
>
> === message truncated ===
>
>
> HADZ (a.k.a. joe)
>
> "That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and hull and a deck and sails. That's what a ship needs. But what a ship is... is freedom." 
> -- Captain Jack Sparrow
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>